Parachute harness



Feb. 17, 1948, J. GREGORY PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed Sept. 16, 1946 Jgmes Gregory Att orneys Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARACHUTE HARNESS James Gregory, Waking, England l This invention relates to parachute harness for aviators and others.

The invention has for its main object the provision of an improved harness adapted for fittin to individuals of widely'varying heights, with. a minimum of adjustment, which can be performed by the individual himself either before or after making the connections for securing the harness to his body. 1

' Another object of. the invention is to provide an improved harness of the type comprising a sling in which the'wearer sits during descent, the main lift webs being connected to a seat strap or loop forming the seat, with the feature that the rising portions of the lift webs above the seat strap or loop are slidably engaged with all the parts of the harness connected thereto.

It is a further feature of the improved haress that'the'free sliding movement of the lift webs through their connections to the belt and other parts of the harness enables them to be adjusted in relation to one another so that by pulling down the lift webs on one side and slackening them on the other side, the wearer of the harness can effect a sliding movement of the seat strap or loop beneath him, thereby securing greater comfort.

One embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents the improved harness opened out ready for use.

Figs, 2, 3 and 4 are details in section on the lines A-A, BB and -0 respectively of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, two lift webs I!) are provided on each side, the two webs running down in superposed or flatwise contact from their shackles I I which are connected to the lift strops of the parachute (not shown); the lower ends of the two lift webs,

starting from a point l2 on each side, are spread out into edgewise relation and lapped or otherwise connected with those of the two lift webs on the other side,'so as tovform a broad seat loop I3. From points I 4 near the middle of the seat loop, two leg straps l5 extend forwards for passage upwards beside the thighs, the free ends being provided with suitable coupling devices 18 so that they may be quickly secured together over the thighs; these free ends are fitted with sliding buckles I! for adjustment, the other ends being stitched or otherwise secured to the seat loop at the points I l. The buckles I! are preferably attached to the coupling devices It by short lengths of webbing or the like, the loose ends l5a of the Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,283

In Great Britain October 18, 1945 4 Claims. (01. 244-151) straps l5 hanging down from thebuckles I! ready for manipulation when required.

I A belt l8 running across theback of the wearers waist, and provided with suitable coupling devices l9 so that the belt can be quickly fasnot tend to close the space inside the reinforced loop 20, 2|. Through this space the rising portions of the lift webs ID are freely slidable up and down so that the belt I8 can be adjusted in level to suit the wearers figure.

A pair of cross braces 23, secured to the belt at points 24 adjacent to the reinforced loops 20, 2!, extend diagonally across the wearers back, over his shoulders and downwards in fiatwise contact with the lift webs In on the respective sides; the lift webs pass freely through buckles or open frames 25 of rectangular shape (see Figs.

1 and 2) anchored to these cross braces 23 by means of patches 26 at right and left in front of the wearers chest, the cross braces being continued downwards in contact with the lift webs II] for part of the distance down to the belt or waist level, and then diverging laterally and rearwards at 21 (Fig. 1) for attachment of their extremities to the belt itself. for'example by overlapping the parts 24 where their other ends are secured. These continuations 21 of the cross braces, before diverging from the lift webs, pass together with them through another pair of reinforced loops 28 fitted with suitable coupling devices 29 which can be quickly fastened together in front of the wearer, thereby completing the locking of the harness; these reinforced loops 28 allow the lift webs l8 and cross brace continuations 21 to be drawn together in front of the wearer under moderate tension, the lower portions of the continuations 21 being pulled downwards through the loops 28 so as to settle the cross braces 23 over the shoulders. while the said lower portions hang loosely below the belt I8 which holds them against the body.

When the harness has thus been fitted, the wearer can grasp the lift webs ID on the two sides of his body and adjust them upwards or downwards, or adjust one upwards and the other downwards, as may be required to secure comfort and balance, and he can also slide the loops 2U, 28 of the belt and chest coupling devices upwards or downwards as may be required. The tightening of the coupled leg straps l5 may be type, preferably engaging automatically by push-- ing onemember of the coupling into the other,,

with or without locking means to prevent accidental release.

The downward continuations of the. cross braces. 23, instead of diverging from theliftlwebs' It as indicated at 21 in Fig. 1, may follow the respective lift webs closely and terminate inside the locpsllli to which their extremities are sewn on one side;

Fig, 4ishows; (in dotted lines) the extremity 30 of one cross brace arranged in this manner. Alternatively, the downward continuationsof: the cross-braces may. follow the: respective lift webs and'terminate near the loops ffl, their extremities being sewn toi apconvenient; portion of the belt. 13, thus: again. leaving; the. webs IEI' free, to move in relation tQ-all; other parts of the harness.

In a: modification, the lift/webs l0, instead of being arranged .infront of the wearersibody, may beplacedtat. the back, the cross .braces: 23 being,

anchored to buckles; 25 adjustable; on these liftv webs the: slidingiloopsszfl will then be connected to. their: coupling-devices 29 by straps of :sufficient.

length to pass around the sides-of. the, body for couplingin front, andtheloopszllof the belt [8 will beplacedicloser together. Alternatively the liftwebsmaybe splitor halved, one half being at the. front and the other. half 1 at the back.

What. I. claim is:

1-'...Parachute. harness comprisingli-ft webs, a seatmember connected tothelower ends of? said lift webs, toforma sling seat, albeit, fastening means for-saidrbelt, cross-braces extending. over the. shoulders-oi. the wearer, and. connections. be.-

tween said lift webs andsaid beltandcross braces respectively, said connections including sliding members adjustable up and down said lift webs.

2. Parachute harness comprising lift webs, a seat member connected to the lower ends of said lift webs to form a sling seat, a belt, fastening means for said belt, cross braces extending diagonally upwards from the rear portion of said belt over the shoulders to the front of the wearer, connections between-said liftawebsand said'belt, and connections :between saidlliftl webs and the front portions of said cross braces, all said connections including sliding members adjustable up and down saidlift webs.

3; Parachute harness comprising lift webs. a seat member connected to the lower ends of said lift webs to form a sling seat, a belt, fastening means: for saidbelt, connections between said belt'and said lift webs, and detachable connections; between opposite points of said lift webs above said belt, all said connections including sliding. members. adjustable up. and downv said lift webs.

4. Parachute. harness comprising liftwebs, a seat member connected tothe. lower endsof, said lift webs toform. a sling seat,.and harness'connections between opposite points ofsaid lift webs, said harness. connections: including loops. formed in the material of said connections and lined. with. sheet metal reinforcement, and said lined 'loops encircling the respective lift webs and. adapted to slide upand down .said lift. webs.

JAMES GREGORY.,

REFERENCES CITED The following; references are. of 1 recordin the? file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,769,520 Knight. July 1, 1930 1,857,375 Hoffman May 10, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 499,325 GreatBritain. June 22, 1936. 

